D.C. DISPATCHES

Sunday

Jun 28, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 28, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Brown seeks to bolster layoff notification law

Sen. Sherrod Brown and other lawmakers -- mostly Democrats -- introduced legislation last week that they say would close loopholes and strengthen worker protections in the law requiring employers to notify employees when job losses are coming.

Brown seeks to bolster layoff notification law

Sen. Sherrod Brown and other lawmakers -- mostly Democrats -- introduced legislation last week that they say would close loopholes and strengthen worker protections in the law requiring employers to notify employees when job losses are coming.

The bid is sure to run into criticism from many Republicans and corporate leaders who say that now isn't the time to place tougher mandates on businesses. But proponents will point to the economic slump and continuing layoffs as all the more reason to overhaul the notification law.

Brown and his co-authors in the Senate and House say that the current Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or the WARN Act, needs to be turned into FOREWARN: the Federal Oversight, Reform and Enforcement of the WARN Act.

It was another Ohio Democrat in the U.S. Senate, the late Howard Metzenbaum, who played a big role in crafting the original law two decades ago. Brown, who held hearings last year that led to the new proposal, says it is time for an update.

"This bill will modernize the WARN Act by closing loopholes and strengthening its enforcement," he said. "Workers and communities should be armed with best arsenal of protective measures during these challenging economic times."

Brown's bill would make employers with 75 employees or more subject to the notification law, compared with 100 employees currently. Another provision would require that workers be given 90 days' notice of layoffs, instead of the current 60 days.

'Buy American' effort now tied to stimulus money

When it comes to the $787 billion stimulus bill and strong mandates to "Buy American," Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, is taking the try and try again approach.

After objections from President Barack Obama and others raised fears of a trade war, the Buy American provision in the stimulus bill was watered down to the point where it could not be considered a mandate.

Wilson introduced legislation last week that attempts to put some bite back into Buy American when it comes to the stimulus bill and American-made steel. He said that, under the bill, if companies want to receive the stimulus tax credit for renewable-energy projects such as windmills, they must use 100 percent American steel to receive 100 percent of the credit.

"If they use foreign steel, we shouldn't be giving them a tax incentive," Wilson said. "If it only uses 50 percent American steel, it should only get 50 percent of the credit."

Voinovich donors included Duke Energy workers

One of the biggest cheerleaders for the proposed nuclear energy plant at Piketon in southern Ohio is Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich. The plant would be run by a consortium that includes Duke Energy, which is not unfamiliar to Voinovich.

Even though he wasn't up for re-election last year, Voinovich got $20,000 in campaign contributions from donors listing their employer as Duke, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That was more than any candidate in the country except for Barack Obama, who received $22,332.

White House ranks Ohio's health care as 'average'

The Obama administration put out a state-by-state list last week showing why the health-care system is broken and needs fixing. The news release said health care in Ohio now is merely "average," citing statistics such as:

• Since 2000, average family premiums have increased by 92 percent in Ohio.

• 12 percent of people in Ohio report not visiting a doctor because of high costs.

• Ohio businesses and families shoulder a hidden health tax of roughly $1,000 per year on premiums as a direct result of subsidizing the costs of the uninsured.

• The percentage of Ohioans with coverage through their employer is declining: from 71 percent in 2000 to 65 percent in 2007. Although small businesses make up 72 percent of Ohio businesses, only 47 percent of them offered health-care benefits in 2006 -- down 5 percent since 2000.

• 11 percent of people in Ohio are uninsured, and 64 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker.

• 21 percent of women older than 50 in Ohio have not received a mammogram in the past two years, while 39 percent of men older than 50 have never had a colorectal-cancer screening.

"Ohioans know that inaction is not an option," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in the release. "Skyrocketing health-care costs are hurting families, forcing businesses to cut or drop health benefits, and straining state budgets. Millions are paying more for less. Families and businesses in Ohio deserve better."

Compiled by Jonathan Riskind and Jack Torry of the Dispatch Washington Bureau and Public Affairs Editor Darrel Rowland.

jriskind@dispatch.com

jtorry@dispatch.com

drowland@dispatch.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.